Multiple completion pumping unit



Dec. 1, 1964 z. HALLMARK MULTIPLE COMPLETION PUMPING UNIT Sheets-Sheet 1Filed Dec. 14, 1962 INVENTOR.

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MULTIPLE COMPLETION PUMPING UNIT Filed Dec. 14, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 HINVENTOR.

i. Z zY YCZM/YFK United States Patent 3,159,107 MULTIPLE COMPLETIONPUMPING UNIT Levon Z. Hallmark, P.0. Box 484, Andrews, Tex. Filed Dec.14, 1962, Ser. No. 244,674 4 Claims. (Cl. 103-212) This inventionrelates generally to pumping units for oil wells, and more particularlyto multiple completion pumping units installed on dual, triple andquadruple oil well completions. Although the fundamental purpose of thepresent invention is a pumping unit to be used in multiple sucker rodstring completions, the same may also be readily adapted to singlecompletions as well.

The multiple completion pumping unit hereinafter described elim-inatesthe use of such components which are generally known by oil men ashorses heads, walking beams, sampson posts, etc. This invention providesfor the elimination of the old components and their replacement by newcomponents which are more compact, are easy to operate and present fewersafety hazards. For instance as compared to conventional pumping units,the present multiple completion pumping unit does the job just aseffectively yet with much saving in time, labor and oil production losswhen remedial -'W0lk becomes necessary.

In actual practice, a dual completion Well using two single sucker rodstrings of conventional design, it is necessary that both pumping unitsbe shut down, partially disassembled and laid aside in order to pullonly one rod string. This is a time consuming and costly operation. Moreimportantly, the rod string that is still in good condition and does notrequire remedial work must lose its production while the faulty stringis being repaired. In addition, on a dual completion well having oneflowing side and one pumping side, the pumping side must be shut down inorder to swab or cut parafiin in the flowing side. Only after all workhas been completed may the pumping side be put back into operation.Likewise, on triple and quadruple completions, all strings must be shutdown and disconnected to repair only one string.

Through the utilization of the present multiple completion pumping unitall of the above enumerated problems may be eliminated in the event ofneeded repairs to any one rod string or pumping unit. From the foregoing it becomes obvious that any one string of sucker rods may bepulled, fished, etc., if necessary without interrupting, evenmomentarily, the operation of any of the other rod strings. While underconventional methods of operation, all strings must be shut down anddisconnected to repair only one string, under the new method productionloss is eliminated and no time or labor is wasted. Moreover, .theversatility of the new apparatus is such that it can easily be adaptedto. any type or size well head and may be installed on any location vsite.

Accordingly, one object of this invention is the provision of a multiplecompletion pumping unit that will eliminate waste in time and labor whenremedial work is required.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a multiplecompletion pumping unit that is inexpensive to produce, easy to installand safe to operate.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a multiplecompletion pumping unit allowing any one string of sucker rods to bepulled, fished, serviced or repaired without interrupting the operationof any of the other sucker rod strings.

A further object of this invention is a provision allowing adjoiningtubing strings to be swabbed or have paraflin cut without interruptingthe operation of any sucker rod strings.

Patented Dec. 1, 1964 repaired without interrupting the operation of anysucker rod strings.

Another object of this invention is a provision allowing stufling boxesto be replaced or serviced without shutting down adjoining pumpingunits.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a multiplecompletion pumping unit that has no exposed moving parts at the wellhead vicinity.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a novel sheavehousing assembly.

This invention consists of certain other features in construction andoperation and in the combination and arrangement of several parts, to behereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawingsand specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

In describing the invention in detail, references will be had to theaccompanying drawings where like character numerals denote like orcorresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan elevational view of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the sheave housing assembly;

FIG. 5 is a plan elevational view thereof; and

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of a modified form of thehandling straps.

As shown in the drawings, and more particularly referring to FIG. 1, themounting base is preferably constructed out of concrete for aground-level installation, whereas the structural steel supports or legs11, along with the lower concrete footing is used for a cellarinstallation. An I beam platform 13, with adjustable legscrews ismounted on the concrete base to support the sheave housing assembly 12.From FIGS. 1 and 2, it can be seen that a pair of sheave housingassemblies 14 and 15 is mounted on the platform 13, each housing beingconnected to its respective tubing pump joint 16 and 16a respectively.The latter, by means of the unions 17 and 18 communicate the oil wellproper with the flow lines 19 and 20 which lead to the storage tanks orto the refinery (not shown).

More particularly referred to FIG. 1, it shows the platform 13 mountedover the well head 21, which in turn by means of the threaded or flangedunions 22 and .23, is connected to the dual sheave housing assemblies 14and 15. The pumping unit shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 may be of anyconventional make as long as it includes a drive motor 24, the gear box25, and the counterbalanced weights 26, which are held to the revolvinghead 27. The latter is mounted to rotate in bearings 28 in the gear boxframe 25, being driven by the motor 24.

A pair of pitman arms 29 are by means of the pins 30 mountedeccentrically to the head 27 and in such a manner as to oscillate andtransmit the oscillating motion of the pitman arms 29 to the rollers 31.The latter are slideably mounted in the roller tracks 32 of the pumpingunit frame 33.

By means of a crossbar, or bridge 34, the oscillating motion of thepitman arms 29 with their rollers 31 is transmitted to the polished rod35, which passes through the stufiing box 36, the thrust plate 37, andon through the pumping T 38. Both the thrust plate 37 and the pumping T38 are connected to the tubing 16 (see FIG. 1). The thrust plate 37butts against its adjustable companion thrust bearing, 62, which is apart of the pumping unit frame 33.

From the exploded perspective view in FIG. 4, it can be seen that whileeach of the sheave housing assemblies 14 and 15 is similar in itsoverall construction, they are mounted uponthe platform 13 facing inopposite direction (see FIG. 1). One sheave housing assembly (namely 14)is by means of its coupling 39 connected to the tubing 16, while theother sheave housing assembly (numbered 15) is by means of its coupling40 connected to its tubing 16a. Their respective threaded nipples 22.and 23 connect by means of the unions or threaded flange adapter-s, thesheave housing assemblies 14 and 15 to the oil well head 21. The sheaveshaft 43 rests upon the platform 13 and receive the entire weight oftheir respective sucker rod strings 46.

Each of the sheave housing assemblies consist of a cast sheave housing41, which is provided with bored holes 42 and grooved to receive ringseals into which is mounted the sheave shaft 43. A sheave roller, orpulley 44, being fitted with roller bearings, is mounted to rotate onthe sheave shaft 43' inside the sheave housing 41. From FIG. 4, it canbe seen that a wire rope 45 has one end thereof 45a secured by means ofa rope socket and swivel to the polished rod 35 (which is operated bymeans of the reciprocating motion of the pit- 'man arms 29 abovedescribed); While the other end 45b is passed over the sheave roller 44to enter the threaded nipple 22 and to connect by means of a second ropesocket and swivel 45c to the nomal sucker rod string 46.

A plate 49, with its gasket seal 48, is mounted by means of the holesand screws 47 over the inspection opening 47a in the sheave housing 41.A handling strap 50; by means of holes 51 and 51a and the sheave shaft43 is fastened to the sheave housing 41. With its opposite end 50a, thehandling strap 50 is provided with a lifting eye 52. By means of thelifting eye 52, the handling strap 50 may be attached to anyconventional crane hook or oil well serving unit to permit the liftingof the sheavehousing assembly from the platform 13, in the event ofreplacements, repairs or remedial work to the oil Well.

FIG. 6 shows a modification of the handling strap 50 shown in FIG. 4,wherein in this case the strap is provided with a pair of flat strapplates 53 and 54, which are mounted to the sheave shaft 43 by means ofholes 55 and 56 respectively. In place of the lifting eye 52 (see FIG.4), the present arrangement provides for a connecting tubular link orspacer 57, which by means of the bolt and nut 58 and 59 may bepermanently secured to the plates 53 and 54 by holes 60 and 61, thusforming a modified handling strap shown in FIG. 6. The object of thismodification of the handling strap is to provide an even lowersilhouette of the entire sheave housing assembly in as much as themodified handling strap, when not in use, may, by removing the bolt andnut 58 and 59 and spacer 57, be folded back and down below the coupling39 and tubing 16 and come to rest parallel to the platform 13 (seeFIG. 1) Where the spacer 57' and bolt and nut 58 and 59 may be replaced.

From the foregoing description of the device shown in FIGS. 1 to 6inclusive,'it becomes apparent that in actual operation and in the eventremedial work has to be done to the dual complexion illustrated in FIG.2, either of the sheave housing assemblies 14 or 15 may be readilyremoved for repairs or replacements without in any way interfering withthe operation of the adjoining sheave housing assembly.

A careful consideration of the foregoing description in conjunction withthe invention as illustrated in the drawings Will enable the reader toobtain a clear understanding and impression of the alleged features ofmerit and novelty suificient to clarify the construction and operationof the invention as hereinafter claimed.

Minor changes in shape, size, materials and rearrangement of parts maybe resorted to in actual practice so long as no departure is made fromthe invention as claimed.

What I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent of theUnited States is:

1. A multiple completion unit of the class described for oil wellscomprising in combination a pair of reciprocating arms, a reciprocatingshaft mounted to said arms, oil Well rods, a well platform, a sheavepulley, a pulley shaft, a Wire rope of substantial length having one endthereof adapted to be connected to said reciprocating shaft with itsother end being connected to said oil well rods, a sheave housingassembly mounted on said well platform and comprisnig a housing frame,said sheave pulley being mounted to turn on said shaft inside saidframe, said wire rope passing over said pulley, said shaft in said framewhile resting on said platform supporting the entire weight of saidrods, means for securing said sheave housing assembly to said oil wellplatform, said sheave housing assembly having a threaded couplingconnecting said assembly to a joint leading to a main oil well flowline, a tubing connected to said coupling and said wire rope passingthrough saidtubing to enter the interior of the sheave housing assembly.

2. The combination according to claim 1; wherein multiple sheave housingunits are mounted over said oil well head, and means to mount each unitseparately on said platform, and means to secure each unit separately tosaid oil well head.

3. The combination according to claim 1; wherein said sheavehousingassemblly is provided with a handling strap formed from a pair offlat plates, said plates positioned on either side of the housing frameof said sheave,

holes in said plates in alignment with the sheave shaft, said shaftpassing through said holes in-said plates, the opposite end of saidplates cojoined together to form a yoke, said yoke being provided with alifting eye.

4. The combination acording to claim 1; wherein said sheave housingassembly is provided with an inspection opening, said opening being cutin one end of the housmg frame, a cover plate and gasket over saidopening, and screw means for securing said cover plate over said openingwhenthe internal parts replacement or inspection thereof has beencompleted.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,489,986 4/24Davison 103-212 X 1,540,638 6/25 Laughter 74-408 1,655,062 1/28 Kammereret all 103-212 1,799,971 4/31 Gordon 103-212 3,055,228 9/62 McStravick103-205 LAURENCE V. EFNER, Primary Examiner. ROBERT M. WALKER, Examiner.

1. A MULTIPLE COMPLETION UNIT OF THE CLASS DESCRIBED FOR OIL WELLSCOMPRISING IN COMBINATION A PAIR OF RECIPROCATING ARMS, A RECIPROCATINGSHAFT MOUNTED TO SAID ARMS, OIL WELL RODS, A WELL PLATFORM, A SHEAVEPULLEY, A PULLEY SHAFT, A WIRE ROPE OF SUBSTANTIAL LENGTH HAVING ONE ENDTHEREOF ADAPTED TO BE CONNECTED TO SAID RECIPROCATING SHAFT WITH ITSOTHER END BEING CONNECTED TO SAID OIL WELL RODS, A SHEAVE HOUSINGASSEMBLY MOUNTED ON SAID WELL PLATFORM AND COMPRISING A HOUSING FRAME,SAID SHEAVE PULLEY BEING MOUNTED TO TURN ON SAID SHAFT INSIDE SAIDFRAME, SAID WIRE ROPE PASSING OVER SAID PULLEY, SAID SHAFT IN SAID FRAMEWHILE RESTING ON SAID PLATFORM SUPPORTING THE ENTIRE WEIGHT OF SAIDRODS, MEANS FOR SECURING SAID SHEAVE HOUSING ASSEMBLY TO SAID OIL WELLPLATFORM, SAID SHEAVE HOUSING ASSEMBLY HAVING A THREADED COUPLINGCONNECTING SAID ASSEMBLY TO A JOINT LEADING TO A MAIN OIL WELL FLOWLINE, A TUBING CONNECTED TO SAID COUPLING AND SAID WIRE ROPE PASSINGTHROUGH SAID TUBING TO ENTER THE INTERIOR OF THE SHEAVE HOUSINGASSEMBLY.